The An�-Resume: Hiring for A�tude, Training for Skill
A pivotal divergence from mainstream tech recruitment came from Prateek’s
evolving perspec�ve on talent. Having experienced the pressures of hiring the
“top 1%” in mul�na�onal corpora�ons and �nding the results o�en indis�n-
guishable from hiring less creden�aled individuals, he began to ques�on the
model. “Okay, 1% is �ne,” he thought, “What’s happening with the rest of the
99%?” This led to a radical decision for ColoredCow: instead of “stealing the
talent, we believe in crea�ng the talent.”
This philosophy found its most concrete expression when ColoredCow estab-
lished an incuba�on center in an engineering college in the hills of U�arakhand
in 2017. The ra�onale was clear: “Let’s go to �er N, not �er 2, not �er 3... tradi-
�onally, if there are hills that are normally neglected... it’s more touristry rather
than economy.” This move was not about �nding cheap labor but about unearth-
ing and nurturing poten�al where others weren’t looking. The “CodeTrack” pro-
gram emerged, a hands-on approach where students and fresh graduates work
on real, open-source projects, “pu�ng the code in Github, ge�ng it reviewed,
doing the Devops thing, launching the product.” It starkly contrasts tradi�onal
retraining programs, o�ering immediate, tangible experience. “The beauty was
that... it was the actual thing,” Prateek emphasizes.
The core hiring principle became “hire for a�tude and train for skill.” While ac-
knowledging this is “very tough when you are growing,” ColoredCow remains
commi�ed. They look for individuals who understand their current skill level,
believe in the company’s values, and are open to a learning curve. This approach,
Prateek believes, fosters natural loyalty and has resulted in an a�ri�on rate that
is “probably the lowest in the industry.” People who joined in 2014 are “s�ll
hanging around and they’re building the team further with the same tenacity.”
“Rather than stealing the talent, we believe in creating
the talent. It’s a very long-term approach, but it worked
well for ColoredCow.”
with value.” It also highlighted the unique challenges of the social sector, where
the value of technology o�en clashes with �ght budgets and a primary focus
on bene�ciaries. “For an NGO, the tech is s�ll not the core, right? So the money
should go to the bene�ciary, not to a tech company,” Prateek explains, ar�culat-
ing the �ghtrope he walks in pricing his services to be sustainable yet accessible.